2 Chronicles 2:1

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Determined.—Literally, said, which may mean either commanded, as in 2Chronicles 1:2; 1Chronicles 21:17, or thought, purposed, resolved, as in 1Kings 5:5. The context seems to favour the latter sense.

And an house for his kingdom.—Or, for his royalty; that is, as the Vulg. renders, a palace for himself. Solomon’s royal palace is mentioned again in 2Chronicles 2:12; 2Chronicles 7:11; 2Chronicles 8:1; but the building of it is not related in the Chronicle. (See 1Kings 7:1-12.)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 2:1. And a house for his kingdom — A royal palace for himself and his successors. The substance of this whole chapter is contained in 1 Kings 5., and is explained in the notes there, and the seeming differences between the contents of this and it reconciled.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:1-18 Solomon's message to Huram respecting the temple, His treaty with Huram. - Solomon informs Huram of the particular services to be performed in the temple. The mysteries of the true religion, unlike those of the Gentile superstitions, sought not concealment. Solomon endeavoured to possess Huram with great and high thoughts of the God of Israel. We should not be afraid or ashamed to embrace every opportunity to speak of God, and to impress others with a deep sense of the importance of his favour and service. Now that the people of Israel kept close to the law and worship of God, the neighbouring nations were willing to be taught by them in the true religion, as the Israelites had been willing in the days of their apostacy, to be infected with the idolatries and superstitions of their neighbours. A wise and pious king is an evidence of the Lord's special love for his people. How great then was God's love to his believing people, in giving his only-begotten Son to be their Prince and their Saviour.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This passage is very nearly identical with 1 Kings 10:26-29.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 2

2Ch 2:1, 2. Solomon's Laborers for Building the Temple.

1. Solomon determined to build—The temple is the grand subject of this narrative, while the palace—here and in other parts of this book—is only incidentally noticed. The duty of building the temple was reserved for Solomon before his birth. As soon as he became king, he addressed himself to the work, and the historian, in proceeding to give an account of the edifice, begins with relating the preliminary arrangements.Solomon appointeth workmen to build the temple: his embassage to king Huram for workmen and materials, promising to furnish him with victuals, 2 Chronicles 2:1-10. Huram’s kindness, 2 Chronicles 2:11-16. Solomon numbereth and divideth the workmen, 2 Chronicles 2:17,18.

i.e. A royal palace for himself and his successors. This whole chapter, for the substance of it, is contained in 1 Kings 5, and in the notes there it is explained, and the seeming differences reconciled.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the Lord,.... For the worship and service of God, and for his honour and glory, being directed, enjoined, and encouraged to it by his father David:

and an house for his kingdom; for a royal palace for him, and his successors, first the one, and then the other; and in this order they were built.

Geneva Study Bible

And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Ch. 2. Solomon’s Preparations for Building the Temple

1, 2 (= 2 Chronicles 2:17-18 [1:18, 2 Chronicles 2:1, Heb.] below; 1 Kings 5:15). Bearers and Hewers

1. determined] R.V. purposed, as in 1 Kings 5:5.

for the name] cp. 1 Chronicles 22:7; 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 22:19; 1 Chronicles 28:3; 1 Chronicles 29:16.

a house for his kingdom] See 1 Kings 7:1-8.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - In the Hebrew text this verse stands as the last of ch. 1. Determined. The Hebrew word is the ordinary word for "said;" as, e.g., in the expression of such frequent occurrence, "The Lord said." Its natural equivalent here might be, he gave the word, or issued the command, for the building of a house. For the Name of the Lord; better, to the Name of the Lord (1 Kings 5:3; or in Hebrew text, 5:18; 1 Chronicles 22:7). The expression," the Name of the Lord," is of very early date (Genesis 4:26). A name named upon a person at the first purported as far as possible to mark his nature, either its tout ensemble or some striking attribute of it. Hence the changed name, sometimes of Divine interposition (Genesis 17:5, 15; Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:10); and much more noticeably the alterations of the Divine Name, to serve and to mark the progressive development of the revelation of God to man (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 3:14; Exodus 6:3; Exodus 34:14). So the Name of the Lord stands ever - monogram most sacred - for himself. A house for his kingdom; i.e. a royal residence for Solomon himself. This is mere clearly expressed as, "in his own house" (2 Chronicles 7:11; 2 Chronicles 8:1; 1 Kings 9:10, 15). The description of this house for himself is given in 1 Kings 7:1-13. But no parallel account exists in Chronicles. 2 Chronicles 2:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

(2 Chronicles 1:18). The account of these is introduced by 1:18: "Solomon thought to build." אמר with an infinitive following does not signify here to command one to do anything, as e.g., in 1 Chronicles 21:17, but to purpose to do something, as e.g., in 1 Kings 5:5. For יהוה לשׁם, see on 1 Kings 5:17. למלכוּתו בּית, house for his kingdom, i.e., the royal palace. The building of this palace is indeed shortly spoken of in 2 Chronicles 2:11; 2 Chronicles 7:11, and 2 Chronicles 8:1, but is not in the Chronicle described in detail as in 1 Kings 7:1-12.

(2:1). With 2 Chronicles 2:1 begins the account of the preparations which Solomon made for the erection of these buildings, especially of the temple building, accompanied by a statement that the king caused all the workmen of the necessary sort in his kingdom to be numbered. There follows thereafter an account of the negotiations with King Hiram of Tyre in regard to the sending of a skilful architect, and of the necessary materials, such as cedar wood and hewn stones, from Lebanon (2 Chronicles 2:2-15); and, in conclusion, the statements as to the levying of the statute labourers of Israel (2 Chronicles 2:1) are repeated and rendered more complete (2 Chronicles 2:16, 2 Chronicles 2:17). If we compare the parallel account in 1 Kings 5:5., we find that Solomon's negotiation with Hiram about the proposed buildings is preceded (1 Kings 5:5) by a notice, that Hiram, after he had heard of Solomon's accession, had sent him an embassy to congratulate him. This notice is omitted in the Chronicle, because it was of no importance in the negotiations which succeeded. In the account of Solomon's negotiation with Hiram, both narratives (2 Chronicles 2:2-15 and 1 Kings 5:16.) agree in the main, but differ in form so considerably, that it is manifest that they are free adaptations of one common original document, quite independent of each other, as has been already remarked on 1 Kings 5:5. On 2 Chronicles 2:2 see further on 1 Kings 5:15.